Chrysanthemum indicum Herbstrubin

Chrysanthemum x indicum Herbstrubin is a late flowering garden chrysanthemum with beautiful double flowers in a deep ruby red, which are magnificent during the season of flamboyant autumn colours in the garden. It develops its fairly large pompom flowers on a tall plant with green-grey foliage in October and November. It requires a warm and sheltered location to prolong its flowering period. Hardy and long-lasting, it is easy to grow in any good garden soil. This plant, also known as autumn daisy, is perfect for borders or containers on a terrace. It quickly forms a tall and beautiful flowering clump for several weeks.

The Garden Chrysanthemum is a perennial herbaceous plant with a rhizomatous and woody stump belonging to the Asteraceae family, and is a cousin of daisies and sunflowers. Herbstrubin is a cultivar derived from Chrysanthemum indicum, a plant native to East Asia, cultivated since antiquity in China, Japan, and Korea, which is the origin of florist chrysanthemums. It forms a 1m (3ft) tall bush with a width of 50 cm (20in) starting from spring, composed of branched leafy stems, woody at the base. Its growth is quite rapid. The flowering period extends from October to November depending on the climate. The plant produces numerous double pompom flowers, reaching a diameter of 6 cm (2in), grouped in small bouquets at the top of the leafy stems. The ligules are of a deep ruby red colour. The leaves are triangular-ovate, coarsely divided into 5 lobes and measure up to 5 cm (2in) long. They have toothed edges, a slightly dull green-grey colour, and are hairy underneath. The above-ground vegetation dries up in winter and regrows in spring. Its perennial stump will live for a long time in the garden.

Garden chrysanthemums offer immense resources during a slightly less flowery time of the year and harmonise remarkably well with autumn colours. They can be associated with asters in complementary colours. Their flowering is lightened by cosmos, Japanese anemones, gauras, shrubby salvias, hardy fuchsias, or kaffir lilies. They are particularly interesting when associated with grasses: Carex, Stipa, and Pennisetum. Chrysanthemums make excellent cut flowers that last a long time in a vase. Consider using taller varieties to create autumn borders at the base of deciduous bushes that will reflect their yellow, red, and orange autumn foliage.